Air-conditioning plant



Nov. 2, 1954 G LABOLLE 2,693,092

AIR- CONDITIONING PLANT Filed June 18, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 2, 1954 G. LABOLLE 2,693,092

AIR CONDITIONING PLANT Filed June 18, 1951 4 Sheet-Sheet s ear ej A 2 50 Ha In ue,) 'tar.

Nov. 2, 1954 G. LABOLLE 2,693,092

AIR-CONDITIONING PLANT Filed June 18, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 e r s L Q be He,

Inuunto United States Patent Ofiice 2,693,092 Patented Nov. 2, 1954 AIR-CONDITIONING PLANT Georges Labolle, Medea, Algeria Application June 18, 1951, Serial No. 232,085

Claims priority, application France June 27, 1950 3 Claims. (Cl. 62-129) This invention relates to air-conditioning plant of the type including radiator means adapted, during the cold weather period, to be supplied with a heated fluid and, during the summer or hot weather season, to be supplied with a cooled fluid.

One object of the invention is to provide such a plant comprising at least one compressor for a cold-generating liquid, and adapted to be switched from summer-type operation to winter-type operation and vice versa merely by the operation of valve means.

Another object of the invention is so operatively to interconnect the control valves as to make possible their joint operation by action on a single control member.

A further object is to provide an air-conditioning plant of the kind described wherein the radiator means are adapted to serve either as evaporator or as condenser means for the cooling fluid depending on whether the premises in which the plant is installed are to be cooled or heated.

Yet a further object is to provide such a plant wherein the radiator means are supplied with an intermediate fluid adapted, in winter, to be heated by virtue of the fact that said liquid is used for condensing the cooling fluid, and to be cooled in summer by heat exchange with the evaporator.

The above and further objects of this invention will appear in the course of the ensuing description relating to several exemplary forms of embodiment of air-conditioning plant constructed in accordance therewith. In the accompanying diagrammatic drawings:

Figs. 1 to 3 illustrate a first embodiment involving direct expansion of the cooling fluid; therein Fig. 1 shows the plant in its condition for winter operation.

Fig. 2 shows the plant in summer operation; and

Fig. 3 is an axial section of a multiple valve used in the installation according to Fig. 1 and 2.

Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate a modified embodiment, in winter and summer operation respectively.

Figs. 6 to 8 relate to a third embodiment, involving the use of an intermediate liquid as the heat transfer medium; therein Fig. 6 is an isometric view of the principal section of the plant;

Figs. 7 and 8 are diagrammatic views of the same section, in summer and winter condition respectively.

Figs. 9 and 10 relate to a modification of Figs. 1 and 2; an

Figs. 11 and 12 diagrammatically illustrate the grouped arrangement of the control valves in the embodiment of the Figures 1 to 10.

In the forms of embodiment of the invention respectively illustrated in Figs. 1, 4 and 9, the radiators are directly supplied with the cooling fluid. According to a known arrangement, they comprise a central tube nest 21 having associated therewith a complementary tube nest 21a adapted to operate under higher pressure. Since these radiators in the double group arrangement are well known, these elements have been only schematically shown in the drawing. They may moreover be provided, if desired, with fans, as well-known per se.

While only a single radiator unit has been shown in the figures for greater clearness, the plant may obviously include as many radiators as desired.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the radiator tube nests 21-21a are each connected to a circuit 57, 58 and 57a, 58a which includes compressors 40-40a actuated in a constant direction by a motor (not shown). Each compressor 40, 40a is surrounded by a quadrilateral arrangement of conduits 60, 61, 62, 63 and 60a, 61a, 62a, 63a. Its intake and delivery are respectively connected to opposite sides 60, 63 and 60a, 63a of this quadrilateral, and are controlled by three-way valves 41, 41a, 42, 42a. One apex 64 of the quadrilateral of conduits 60, 61, 62, 63 for compressor 40a is connected with a tube nest 21 of the radiator. The opposite apex 65 is connected to a cooler 43 which communicates at its other side with a cgntainer 44 containing a body of liquefied cooling Ill One apex 64a of the quadrilateral of conduits 60a, 61a, 63a associated with compressor 40a connects with one end of the radiator tube nest 21a. The latter communicates at its other side with the container 44. The opposite apex of this quadrilateral connects with an auxiliary evaporator 45 which further communicates with the radiator tube nest 21.

Expanders or pressure-relief means 46, 46a, 46b are provided in the conduits which respectively serve the tube nests 2121a and the cooler 43.

For winter operation, the valves 41, 41a, 42, 42a are actuated to the position shown in Fig. 1. Both compressors 40 and 40a then deliver in series into the radiator tube nests 21-21a, which then act as a condenser.

For summer operation, the valves 4141a, 4242a are switched to the position shown in Fig. 2. The compressors then exert suction in series on the radiator tube nests 21-21a, which then serve as evaporator means.

The operating levers or handles of all four valves 41, 41a, 42, 42a may be mechanically connected for simultaneous actuation. Alternatively the four said valves may also be grouped into a unit, and for actuation by means of a common multiple key or the like (Fig. 3).

Rather than being mounted in series as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, the two compressors 4040a may be connected in parallel, as indicated in Fig. 4, in which the arrangement is shown in condition for summer operation, while Fig. 5 illustrates the same in winter oper ation.

The radiators may be supplied with a liquid serving as a medium for conveying cold in summer, and heat in winter. To heat and cool this liquid, a cooling machine is also used operated as heat pump, that is a cooling machine whose condenser is used as a source of heat and the evaporator as a source of cold.

Figs. 6 to 8 illustrate the essential components of such a plant. This comprises a pair of boxes or casings, 47, 47a containing baffle members 47b. The opposite walls 48-48, 48a48a of each box are removable. With these walls in position, the boxes are tightly sealed from the exterior.

Box 47 contains a cooling coil 49 or the like, which at one end connects with the delivery of a compressor 50 for a coolant liquid, said compressor being driven by a motor 51. The other end of the coil connects with a container 52 for a supply of liquefied cold-producing substance. The container 52 is further connected, through an interposed pressure-relief or expander means 53, with another coil 49a placed in box 47a and the other end of which communicates with the intake of the compressor 50.

The plant further includes a conduit 66, 67 for the circulation of the intermediate liquid between the heat pump and the radiators. Interposed on this conduit is a pump 54 the delivery pipe 67 of which divides into two branches 68, 68a respectively leading to the box 47 and the box 47a, said branches again merging into a common pipe beyond the boxes. Three-way valves -56 are respectively interposed at the branching-off point on the delivery pipe of pump 54, and at the merging point of the branches.

The coil 49 serves as a condenser for the cold-producing fluid, while coil 49a serves as the evaporator.

For summer operation, the walls 48-48 of box 47 containing coil 49 are removed and valves 55-56 are actuated to the position shown in Fig. 7, in which the intermediate-liquid pump 54 delivers into the box 47a, said liquid being cooled therein before it is conveyed to the radiators.

For winter operation, on the other hand, the walls Asa-48a. of. box. 471;. are. removed,.and valves-55.56

are brought to their other position shown in Fig. 8. The intermediate liquid then flows through box 47 in which it is heated. prior to flowing into the radiators.

As already stated, the actuating. levers of valves155''56 may be interconnected, or both valves maybe combined into aunit provided with .a common actuating lever.

As shown inFigs. 9 and. 10, the radiator or radiators are directly supplied with the cold-producing fluidas in the embodiments illustrated in Figs. 4.and 5. The. plant also includes two compressors 40', 140:: which arev grouped in parallel.

:InlFigures' 11 and I2, .the'three way valves arereplaced by 8' ordinary valves, 11- 8 grouped together with valves 9-17.

even number designations areclosed. '.In. anotherconmotion, the three-way valves '41-I42,'4Ia-42a.are.in

the respective positions as shown inFigurelO. The radiators thus function as evaporators to cool theambient air.

In thev apparatus for winter operation, the oddnum- .bered valves are closed while theeven numbered valves are opened, and the .three way valves -41--4'2 and 41a--42a are in the positions as shown in: Fig.9.

'The compressors compress thefluid' inlthe radiators, which serve as condensers and consequently as' heating elements.

Figs. II and 12 show in what manner the valves may be grouped with the, purpose of common control thereof through actuation of a common control member, such as a crank connected with a gear meshing with an. endless sprocketchain trained over sprocket pinions respectively rotatable with the plug of each valve. *M'atters are so arranged. that the valves designated by odd reference numerals -will be closed when the even-referenced valves .are open. This is the coriditionfor winter operation (Fig. 11). In summer operation on the other hand, the. odd vaIves.are open and the even ones closed.

.To. changecovenfrom. winter. to...surnrner .operation.and vice versa, it is only necessary to actuate the common operating member in one or the other direction.

The general function of the apparatus whether it be for summer or for winter operation is altogether the same, in view of the foregoing description of the embodiments shown in Figs.8 and"9.

What I claimis:

1. In an air conditioning plant comprising radiators and means for evaporating arrel then compressing and condensing. a cooling .fiuid, at. least one. radiator comprisinga central 'tuhenest and a complementary tube nest, acoolingfluidcompressontor each .of said. tube nests, and valve controlled means for selectively connecting each ofi 's'aiclv tube "nestswith the inlet and outlet of the corresponding compressors.

2. In a plant according to claim 1, at least one radiator .comprisingacentral: tube .nest and a.- complementary tube nest, a compressor'foreach of said. nests, and valve controlled means. for selectively-connecting each of said tube nests with the inlet. andthe outlet ot'the corresponding compressors each in series with respectto the. other.

3. Ina plantaccording to. claim 1, at lea'stlone radiator comprising a central tubenestand' a complementary tube nest',.a compressor foreach" of'said nests, and valves controlled means .forselectively .connectln-g each of said tube nests with'the inletoutletof the corresponding compressors each inparallel with-respect to the other. 

